Chemical Science. 175 



name was given in consequence of the power it possessed of being 

 transformed into a red matter, and of giving a purple vapour ; it does 

 not dissolve in water or etlier, but in alcohol with facility; it 

 combines with oils, one-sixth only making them as thick as butter; 

 boiled, or otherwise treated with potash or soda, it does not enter 

 into combination, but merely becomes of a yellow tint, hard and 

 fragile. 



Sulphuric acid, when cold, dissolves it without alteration ; slightly 

 heated strong effervescence commences, which at first diminishes, and 

 afterwards increases the temperature. When the action has ceased, 

 the eritrogene is found altered to a fragile substance of a cinnamon 

 colour. Cold muriatic acid dissolves it also without alteration ; when 

 warmed, there is effervescence, and a deep chcsnut-coloured butyra- 

 ceous substance is produced. The cold nitric acid solution of it is 

 green, but at 80° or 90° Fahrenheit, the colour begins to disappear; 

 and at 100° Fahrenheit, is entirely lost. A singular phenomenon 

 then occurs ; beyond the limit mentioned the solution begins to appear 

 of a rose tint, which increases by degrees till it arrives at a beautiful 

 purple ; as the tint becomes apparent so also does a slight degree of 

 effervescence, which augments with the augmentation of colour and 

 temperature, until both are at their height together about 144° Fah- 

 renheit, when the ebullition ceases, and the matter formed seems to'un- 

 dergo no further change. The gases liberated during the action, 

 proved to be. for the most part, pure oxygen, whence M. Bizio con- 

 cluded, that the eritrogene had taken nitrogen from the acid. 



Surprised by this circumstance, and anxious to confirm its singular 

 affinity for nitrogen, M. Bizio acted on the substance by ammonia. 

 A few grains were put with liquid ammonia into a small flask. 

 The action was very slow, and it was only after some days that solu- 

 tion began, and it was without change of colour; but, on heatinc the 

 flask, strong effervescence began as soon as the eritrogene was fused, 

 and the full purple colour appeared ; and on collecting the gases 

 liberated during the action, they were found to consist of ammo- 

 niacal and hydrogen gases mixed together. By filling a bent tube 

 with ammoniacal gas over mercury, introducing a few grains of eri- 

 trogene, and heating them, the purple substance was obtained, and 

 the decomposition of gaseous ammonia as well as that in solution fully 

 proved. 



Eritrogene combines readily with sulphur, either by heat or fric- 

 tion ; the compound fuses readily at 20°; if heated in the air, the 

 eritrogene attracts nitrogen, and leaves the sulphur. It combines 

 also with phosphorus when heated with it under water. Heated in a 

 tube over mercury with oxygen gas, there was at first but little 

 effect ; but the temperature being raised in a dark place, a beautiful 

 phosphoric light appeared, which continued until the whole of the 

 eritrogene was changed into a colourless oily fluid, slightly turbid 

 and free from acid. With hydrogen gas, it underwent no change. When 



